Saw-tooth wave generator



y 1951 L. D. z-zLLswo-m ET AL 2,562,305

SAW TOOTH WAVE GENERATOR Filed Feb. 1?. 1950 FIG.I I 4 A E (INPUT) 5 a 9 GATE INPUT o-|| BIAS FIG. 2

SAWTOOTH C-R TUBE 7 E 605 wt GENERATOR 32 1 2-PHASE VOLTAGE GENERATOR E SlNwt INVENTOR. LOUIS 'D. ELLSWORTH YCLAYTON A. WA$H BURN fiatenteci july 31, 195i UNITED STATES NT OFFICE SAW-TOOTH WAVE GENERATOR Army Application February 17, 1950, Serial No. 144,787

Claims.

The invention described in the following specification and claims may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 611,654 filed August 20, 1945.

The invention relates to an electric circuit for generating a voltage to produce a linear sweep of the electron beam in a cathode ray oscilloscope.

In oscilloscopes used in radio direction and ranging systems, it is particularly important to have a linear sweep to cause the electron beam to move across the screen at a. constant speed during the period of the sweep. This problem is complicated when a fast sweep is desired in an oscilloscope using magnetic deflection for the electron beam. It has been found necessary, when magnetic deflection is used, to generate a trapezoidal voltage waveform in which an initial very steep rise of voltage charges the distributed capacitance in the circuit and overcomes the large inductance of the magnetic deflection coils, so as to start the sweep quickly.

One form of oscilloscope presentation with which this invention is particularly adapted to be used is the so-called PPI (plan position indication) scan. In this type of presentation, the beam starts at the center of the oscilloscope screen, travels radially outward at a constant speed, then very rapidly returns to the center, and at the same time is rotated around the screen (like the spoke of a wheel) at a much slower rate than the sweep itself travels, so that very many radial sweeps occur in one complete revolution around the screen.

ing is required for the coil assembly, motor, gen- PPI oscilloscopes are generally provided with one pair of deflection coils. These deflection coils are connected in series and arranged on opposite sides of the throat of the cathode ray tube. The coils produce magnetic fluxes in the same direction, so that the coils are additive in their production of a magnetic field and equivalent to a single coil. The deflection coil assembly is mounted for rotation about the axis of the cathode ray tube. The assembly is usually driven by a servo motor which is energized by a servo amplifier. The servo motor also drives one or more self-synchronous generators having their stators energized by tracking voltages and their outputs providing the error signals for the servo amplifier. Since the deflection coils rotate, it is necessary to provide them with accu- "erators, and the gear trains interconnecting these elements. This conventional arrangement is quite complex, expensive, and has serious operating limitations. It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide a simple, compact, inexpensive arrangement for producing the rotating sweep required for a PPI presentation.

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a linear sweep circuit, which can be accurately synchronized with other circuits, to provide a PPI presentation on an oscilloscope screen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a linear sweep generator for energizing deflection coils for pushpull operation. 20'

It is another object of this invention to produce a linear sweep current or voltage whose amplitude will vary at a very low frequency sinusoidal rate.

It is still another object of this invention to produce two linear sweep voltages or currents whose amplitudes vary sinusoidally and cosinusoidally, respectively, so that they may be impressed on a pair of mutually perpendicular deflection elements of a cathode ray tube to produce a PPI presentation.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a relatively simple circuit for producing highly linear rotating sweeps with fixed deflection coils.

Other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the hereinafter described specification.

The linear sweep is generated by a vacuum tube. The anode of the tube is connected through the deflecting coil to a source of positive potential. The grid is connected to the anode by means of a resistor and capacitor in series. The grid is also connected through a resistorto a terminal at which a modulating potential (usually a low frequency sine wave) is applied. The grid is held at a predetermined fixed potential by a clamp or switch tube at all times, except during the period that a sweep is being generated, at which time it is released by means of a negative gate voltage applied to the grid clamp tube. Once the grid is released, the charge on the capacitor will change at a rate determined" by the potential at the input terminal, the value of the series resistor, the size of the capacitor and feedback from anode to grid. It has been tor for a second set of coils with the sine wave;-

input voltage 90 out of phase with the input voltage on the first sweep generator.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a simplified form of a linear sweep circuit for exemplifying some of'theprin ciples of operation of the circuit..

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, tube 4' is a multigrid also be used. Tube 4' has its grid 4a connected through resistor l to a source 23 of sine wave voltage. The plate of tube 4 is connected through resistor 6 and deflection coil 5 to a source of 3+ voltage. The plate of tube 4 also has a feedback connection to grid; lia. consisting of resistor 3 and condenser 22'. A small adjusting condenser I2 is connected in parallel to condenser 2. The grid 4'a also has connected to it a clamping or switch tube 8'. The clamping tube 8'-may-be a twin triode, as shown, with the, two. triode sections connected oppositely.

I The grids of tube 85 are connected to a source of tube which is used as a sweep generating. tube.

The control grid 4a of this tube is clamped to a reference potential by clamp tube 8, which acts merely asa switch. Alcyclefof sweepyoltage is initiated by applying a negative gating pulse, through a blocking capacitor 9, 'to the grid of clamp 'tube 8. The grid, of the clamp tube is normally positive since it is connected to a positive. potential through resistor 1. The cathode is connected. to a suitable bias potential or ground. The slope of the sweep voltage is determined by. the} rate at which capacitor 2 charges. The slope is therefore dependent on the voltage applied at terminal 21, the valueof capacitor 2 and the value of resistor I. Resistor 3 haslittle or no effect on thecharging rate. If resistor 3.is omitted, theinitial sharp rise of .the voltage EP does not occur and the resultant wave shape is suitable for use. in a cathode ray tube using electrostatic defiection. V

In' order to produce a sweep whose slope changes slowly in a desired manner, a. voltage varying in the same manner is applied, to input terminal 2.1. This input'voltage, shown as a half of a sine wave, varies so slowly that. it is substantially constant during. a single s eep. It hasbeen found that this circuit produces a veryv linear sweep dueto the. feedback action from the anode to the grid through the resistor 3 and ca pacitor 2.

The coil5 represents, the defiectionpoil of the oscilloscope and is shown as. a. single coil, for simplicity, although usually there are two coils connected toreinforce each other. The voltagev waveform existing at point I0 is, the trapezoidal voltage waveform Ep referred to above. The-cur,- rent flowing, through the deflection coilis shown directly. above. the voltage waveformand is la:-

beled In. It should be noticed that the.;current through the coil istartsimmediatelyat a uniform rate due to the initial sharp rise of voltage,

A. linear sweep circuit similar. to the one shown in Fig. 1 is disclosed inthe application of Clayton A. Washburn, Serial No. 5-l4,53 6, entitled Linear Sweep, Circuits, filed. December 16, 1943.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown a circuit embodying the principle of the; circuit of Fig. 1. This circuit isadapted to energize two pairs of pushpull deflection coils .forproducinga. PPI presentation. When the tubes are balanced. the. net flux produced ,bythe pushpull deflecting.

coils is zero, and thispermits the vbeamto remain in the center of the screen of the, cathode raytube when asweep is not beinggenerated. The tubes ,4 and of Fig. 2 are shown as beam power tubes, although triodes or, pentodes could positivepotentiah through a resistor 7' which normally.- maintains. tube 8' conductive and thereby holds the-.grid 4a at a fixed reference potential. The. cathode of one triode section of tube 8' may be grounded, while the plate of the other. triode section is connected to a suitable positive potential source. A condenser 9 is connectedto the grids; oftube 8.2 and provides a mean for m rssm sativ gat pu thesegrids for renderingjtube. 8'. nonconductive.

A. second tube I 4 hasits cathode connected. to

the cathode of tube 4 and both cathodesare connected to ground through variable resistor-23 and fixed resistor 25; The grid l4a is connected through blocking condenser 22 to a point 25 be; tweenresistors lii; and I9, Resistorsv l3,and.-l9 are shunted by condensers. 2.] and I1, respectively, and are connected, in seriesbetween the plates of tubes 4' and M. The screen grids of tubes 4-- and i4 are connected together and .sup' plied with. 3+ potential through resistor II. The plate of tube} I4. is connected through re sistor l6 anddefiectioncoil. l5,to the source of B+ potential. A clamp or; switching. tube 18.. similar to the :clamp tube-.85.. is.connectjed to grid. Ma; The gridsof tube I8 are connected to the gridsof tube-8 The deflection coils 5 and,l5.

tions asfollows: The. circuit elements inthisfig ure, whosereference numerals areshown with primes correspond. exactly, function to the circuit elementswiththesame numeral in Fig 1. Tube 4.? acts asthe s'weep generating tube.- The waveform at point ;I0.'. is exactly the same'as, the waveform produced atpoint It). in Fig. 1. Grid 14a of tube. Misdriven by tube 4 in such. a mannerthat thevoltage variations at point 20f are substantially. equal and out of, phase} with. the variations; at point: Ill. Tube [4.15. coupled to ,tube v l! bym ans r the common, un; bypassed cathode resistors 23 and..24 .a n d ,bycon-j. necting. thel grid l 4a., of tube. LI througha block? ing. capacitor; 22,- to the point '25.;between.re

sisters 13 and IS. The, capacitors. ll and 2]..

improve..-the. waveform at the. anode, of tube [4; by. quickly transmitting srnall unb alall es of po- 1 tential to. p oint 25t The bias on tube. [4,. after. the negative .gate .pu1se{has.,.re1ea'sed its gr'id deg pends. onthe, variation'in potential between points ..25,and 26, If; thevaria tions in potential at theanode of. tube lll areexactly equal and, op psite tothe variations-.in potentiaLat. the

anode. of tube- 4'. the pptntial at,ppint 257 .wi1l', notvary, and;the.potential at.point 25,,will not vary if resistor ltis equal-to resistor. I9. If,re;.

st f I3 e ler h m ist -J netp ina st will.vary. in potential .even. when the tubeS are .in.. step. and, if th e i tors arepggoperl prope ates-see tioned, will provide sufficient driving voltages on the grid of tube M to make its anode voltage variation substantially equal and opposite to that of the anode of tube 4. On the other hand, if the variations'at the anode of tube M are not equal and opposite to those at the anode of tube 4', the potential at points 25 and 26 will vary in such a way as to change the bias on tube M to bring this tube into such balance with tube 4'.

For example, if the current through tube 4 increased more than the current through tube l4 decreased, the voltage at point 25 would rise. This is equivalent to making the bias on grid of tube l4 less positive and would therefore decreasethe current flowing through tube M. This same variation in plate currents would also affect the potential at point 25 since a fall in potetnial at point I not accompanied by an equal rise at point 20 would cause the potential at point 25 to fall. This would create a less positive bias on tube It and would cause the potential at point 20 to rise.

The coils 5' and [5 shown in this figure represent the two parts of the deflection coil in a PPI oscilloscope. When a negative gating voltage is not impressed on the grids of clamp tubes 8' and N3, the current in coil 5 will be equal to the current in coil and if the coils are connected in opposition, no net flux will be produced and no deflection of the beam will take place. The variable cathode resistor 23 is used to control the bias on tubes 4 and I4. The variable capacitor l2, by changing the time constant of the charging circuit, will control the slope of the voltage waveform and therefore can be used to control the amount the beam is displaced during the period of the sweep.

'In order to vary the amplitudes of the currents through coils 5', [5 at a sinusoidal rate, a sinusoidal voltage is impressed on the grid 4'a from alternating current voltage generator 28 through resistor I. Since the amplitude of the current and voltage of the sawtooth waves produced by tubes 4 and I4 is determined by the difference of potential between the plate and grid of tube 4', the outputs of these tubes will vary in accordance with the sinusoidal voltage impressed on the 7 rid of tube 4. The tubes 8 and [8 are shown as twin triodes, one half of each triode being reversed with respect to the other half. This is necessary in order to permit the switching tubes 8' and I8 to conduct and connect grids 4'a and Ma to a reference potential when no gating pulse applied to tubes 8' and I8. For this purpose, each switching tube has one cathode and one anode connected to grids 4'0. and Ma, respectively. The other anodes of tubes 8' and [8 are connected to a source of positive potential, while the other cathodes are shown grounded.

A PPI presentation may be obtained with this circuit by connecting an identical sawtooth generator circuit 29, triggered by the same negative gating pulse, to the other set of deflecting coils 30, 31, and feeding to sawtooth generator 29 an input voltage E cos wt, which is 90 out of phase with the E sin wt voltage applied to the sawtooth generator supplying the first deflection coils 5' g and 15. The deflection coils 30, 3| are arranged 6 fields will combine to produce a rotating linear sawtooth sweep of constant amplitude. This is precisely the type of sweep required for a'PPI presentation.

It will be understood that various combinations of elements can be utilized in our circuits to perform the required functions. However, in order to more specifically teach the practice of our invention, the following are given as an example ofone set of values of the components in the circuit of Fig. 2. These values are designed to produce a sweep having a 5-mile minimum range, using a cathode ray tube having an anode voltage of 7000 volts rate of 1000 C. P. S.

Component No. Value 1 Megohm. y rf. for 5 miles sweep (is proportional to range .51 Megohm for 5 miles sweep (is inversely proportional to range). 4 l4 6L6 tubes. 5, 15 and 30, 3 1100 turn pushpull square core deflection coil. 6, l6 2000 ohms (including coil resistance). 7 1 Megohm. 8, 18. 6SN7 tubes. 9 05 pl. 11.. 24,000 ohms 13.- 100,000 ohms 17 mtf. 19.. 120,000 ohms. 21.. .5 mi. 22. 1000 [LI- 23.- 50 ohms. 24. 180 ohms. 26.- +18 volts approximately. 28.. volts peak sine or'cosine wave. B+ 330 volts D. 0., 100 milliamperes. Gating Pulse 25 volts approximately. Clamp Tube Supply. 150 volts D. C.

It will be apparent that there may be deviations from the invention as specifically described which still fall fairly within'the spirit and scope of the invention. modified for use with an oscilloscope having electrostatic deflection by omitting resistor 3 or 3 and thus generating a simple sawtooth instead of a trapezoidal waveform in addition any desired 1 waveform could be applied to the input terminal to modulate the sweep.

Accordingly, we claim all such deviations which fall fairly within the spirit and scope of the invention as identified in the hereinafter appended claims:

1. A sweep current generator comprising the following apparatus, a first vacuum tube having an anode, a cathode and at least one grid, a condenser connected between the anode and grid, a second vacuum tube similar to the first tube, resistance means connecting the anode of said second tube to the anode of said first tube, a condenser connecting the control grid of said second tube to said resistance means near the midpoint thereof, means for maintaining the grids of the first and second tubes at a reference potential,

means for disconnecting said grids from said reference potential at the beginning of the generation of a sweep current, a common unbypassed cathode resistor electrically connected at one end to the cathodes of said first and second vacuum tubes and having its other end connected to ground, a source of positive potential, and a load connected between each of said anodes and said source of positive potential.

2. A sweep current generator in accordance with claim 1 in which said resistance means is shunted by capacitive means.

3. A sweep current generator as defined in claim 1 including means for impressing a sinusand a sweep frequency repetition For example, the circuits may be ammeote oidal; volta e; between thev gridi and; cathodes. of?

the :first tube ,tothereby, vary; the ,amplitudespofi. the =sw eep currents, sinusoidally;

4. A cathode ray tube deflection circuit for; generating; two interrelated. linear; sweep;v currents; whichv are adapted-.to.produce1 arotating, sweep;.on: acathode ray; oscilloscope, including,- a, firstsweep generatonandav second sweep genera-: tor, each, comprising; the apparatus defined.- in, claim 7 1, means, for sinusoidally; modulating the sweep voltageoutput'ofthe first sweep generator, means. for cosinusoidally modulating, the sweep;

- voltageioutput of saidjsecond sweep, generator,

a load impedance electrically connectedbetw-een.

each of said anodes and a commonrsource of pos-- itive potential, whereby the currents through said load impedances are inpushpullrelatiomship. v

6. The pushpull sweep, generator defined in, claim 5 whereiirthe load impedances arethetwo I halves of a cathode ray, tubezdefiection coilcon nected so that their magnetic fields are in opposi-tion.-

7. The... pushpull sweep generator defined in claim=6 includingmeanssfor varying the amplietude of the sweep current'of the sweep current: generating circuit sinusoidally.

8. vA cathoderaytube,.deflection circuit include ing a pair; of. pushpull sweep current: generators.

each as defined inclaim 6, means for varying; theamplitude of the, sweepcurrentof one of, said sweep currentgenerators sinusoidally, and, means for varying the amplitude of. thesweep. current of the other sweep current 'generatorcosinusoidally.

9tv Asweep voltage generatorcomprising a .first vacuum tube having an anode, a cathode and at. 50 213953956 least n r acondenser connected be ween the, anode. and..erid, means,for varying the pQ tential'of sai gridhasa function. of.-.time for..m.od.-

tween the. grid and cathode of the first tube,

mating; ne-sweepz o te ei .a-seecnde uumtubee.

similanto; thefirst ub resistancesmeans 0011;:

n c nez-thenn de oi aid eco d tubeto hem? de f aid-1fi 5t1 ube nden e i onn ti s, the; on rol rid 03 a decond tubeit said-resis a c -1; mean near he. midmint; li re fiv ans. for,

maintaining; thee rids"; of,- the .firstL and--v second;- tub s-,- at: e rence.-.=p tentia1. m an f r;- i onnectinasaid; eridse rom. said .rref ren e m l-1: tial atthegbeginningptthe generation-01a. Sweep vo1 a e-..- m ans. f r; impr ssing 11 911 011. of. he;

outputvoltage of th 'first-tubebetw n the-.gri

andz athoderpf; hese nd tub a. our e. f 1- tivezn te tial, and: al d; mpeda onnec e between. each or said anodes. and; said. sour :e nf.-.v

positive potential-u 10; A, sweep voltage generator comprisingflrst,

n secondyac nm' es.eachshavingananode a a hode.; nd at leasteon rid, a c ndens mone nected, between the anode, and grid, of saidlim t: tube, .r si anceme m: nnec ing, e. node 10f.

said second tube to the anode of said firsttube; a condenser connecting the control gridof said secondytube toqsaid resistance means near the,

midpoint; thereof, means; for; maintaining; the!- grids-ofthefirst and-second tubesat a;reference potential, means for disconnecting said grids from said referencepotentia-l atv the beginning;

of-the generation o ffia sweep voltage, meansior impressingi a portion. of, the output volta-ge of,

the firsttubehetween thegrid and cathode of ,the-

second, tube, as source of positive potential, a,

load impedance, connected between, each of 1 said anodes andsaid sourceof .positivepotential, and;

meansior. impressing. asinusoidaL voltagebe:

whereby the voltages acrosstheloadlimpedances are in. pushpull relation and. vary, in, amplitude sin soidally.

LOUIS; D. ELLSWQRTH, CLAYTON A. WASI-IBURN.

REFERENCES: CITED The,.fo l1owing references are ofrecord inthg; file. f his-pat nt UNITED STATES PATEN IS Number Name Date.

2313,9665.- Poch Mar. 16, 1943" Goldberg Mar. 5; 19316; 2,436,890 Higinbotham Mar. 2, 1948 23642.74 Todd Mar. 1511949; 

